Introduction

This document contains summary figures for the 2017/2018 Pyropia and Rocky Intertidal monitoring field season. For information regarding associated code or data, please contact lauran.liggan@hakai.org.

The Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Program consists of six core seasonal sites (Nalau Pass, Foggy Cove, Little Wolf Beach, West Beach, North Beach, and Fifth Beach) that are sampled on a monthly (approximately) basis.

Summary Figures



Figure Outline

  • Fig.1 Rock temperature
  • Fig.2 Dissolved organic carbon - accross sites
  • Fig.3 Dissolved organic carbon - between sites
  • Fig.4 Phytoplankton dynamics - by plankton size
  • Fig.5 Phytoplankton dynamics - accross sites
  • Fig.6 Nutrients - across sites
  • Fig.7 Nutrients - between sites

Environmental Correlates


Environmental data is collected to enhance data resolution in rocky intertidal habitats and to accurately predict nearshore environmental conditions where P. abbottiae, Fucus distichus, Mussels, Surfgrass, and other ecologically important organisms thrive. The Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Program collects intertidal temperature and surface water samples: rock temperature, dissolved nitrogen, dissolved carbon 13, and phytoplankton dynamics (Chlorophyll a).



Rock Temperature


Rock temperature is measured at each transect (Pyropia surveys) or habitat (rocky intertidal surveys) every 10 minutes with ibutton and TidBit temperature loggers. Temperature data was paired with Adam’s Harbour tide data to determine periods of time when the loggers where submerged in water or exposed to air.



Foggy Cove

Little Wolf

Nalau

West Beach

5th Beach

North Beach

Figure 1: Changes in rock temperature throughout the year. Temperature data is plotted with tide data to determine when the temperature logger was submerged in water or explosed to air. All temperature figures are interactive and can be explored in greater detail by using the toolbar (top left corner of figure) and the cursor.



Nearshore Water Sampling



Water is collected in the nearshore environment during low tide. A water carbuoy is used to capture water near all rocky intertidal survey sites. Dissolved organic carbon (DO13C), Nutrients (PO4, SiO2, NO3 + NO2) and phytoplankton dynamics (CHLa abundance) is analyzed from n=3 water grabs.


Dissolved Organic Carbon


Figure 2: Changes in dissolved organic carbon (DO13C; ppm) throughout 2017 and 2018. Data is summarized accross all survey sites.



Figure 3: Changes in dissolved organic carbon (DO13C; ppm) throughout 2017 and 2018. Survey site data is summarized separately. Replicates of n=3 samples are averaged for each time point.



Chlorophyll a and Phytoplankton Dynamics


Figure 4: Changes in chlorophyll a concentrations (CHLa; microg/L) throughout 2017 and 2018. Data is parsed by plankton size: Micro plankton (GFF filter), Nano plankton (20 micrometer filter) and Pico plankton (3 micrometer filter).



Figure 5: Changes in chlorophyll a concentrations (CHLa; microg/L) throughout 2017 and 2018, accross all sites.



Nutrients


Figure 6: Changes in Nutrients (PO4, SiO2, NO3 + NO2) throughout 2017. Data is summarized accross all survey sites.



Figure 7: Changes in Nutrients (PO4, SiO2, NO3 + NO2) throughout 2017. Data is summarized separately by each survey site.



Additional Information



For details regarding Rocky intertidal programs and objectives: [Nearshore Rocky Intertidal Overview 2018_Oct.23.docx] https://docs.google.com/document/d/11uqZNnwSabw0thcbntlTkZpVgVAkjPDJS17_ur6W7S8/edit